Omnibuses Blog Post no. 1,456 on Buses Magazine celebratory no. 656
It’s easy to get misty-eyed and even sycophantic about Buses magazine, celebrating throughout 2009 its 60th anniversary. It’s certainty an achievement. When we posted on this very subject in February 2009, we remarked:
- In the internet age of groups & forums, was there a market for a magazine that devoted 1/3 of its space to fleet news? The conclusion was “yes”.
- It was unusual to see there were so few editors over its sixty years.
- How far the magazine had developed since its early days.
I wish I remembered those earlier days with more fondness. The last editions badged Buses Illustrated seemed OK but the early Buses held within a pitifully small selection of articles, usually written in an impenetrable style with all the life of a flat batteried Leyland National on a frosty morning. What I mean is that its approach back then was inaccessible to a younger person of the time, as I was. Little seemed lively or off-beat. Even the pages of fleet news held no interest beyond the stage operators in my neighbourhood.How things change. Nowadays, I can resist Buses though I enjoy its colourful vividness, variety and especially its usefulness as a repository. Yet, I much prefer the more ethereal writing that you find in Transit (though New Transit No. 4 was something of a disappointing) and the industry comment in the other trade press. But I accept that life might well be duller without Buses.
Many people reading this post will have a fondness for Buses. When we ran a survey in March 2009, two-thirds of respondents felt Buses was the best for them.With all this in mind, we’d like to congratulate Buses on reaching its diamond anniversary and the way in which its recent editors have modernised the publication, made it accessible and extended its coverage.
The cover of anniversary Buses November 2009 features a new Scania/Optare double deck for Wilts & Dorset as the example of the industry in 2009 contrasting with a suitably vintage plain green Bristol K type once of predecessor Hants & Dorset.
8 comments:
Golden anniversary is 50 years - Diamond is 60 years!
"....contrasting with a suitably vintage plain green Bristol K type though what a pity this wasn’t a period Hants & Dorset vehicle instead."
But it is a Hants & Dorset vehicle, and even has its original H&D fleetnumber! Its current condition commemorates its time working for LT, although it didn't have 'Ensignbus' fleetnames then.
I was actually very disappointed with the 60th anniversary issue. There was less news than normal, and all the articles were historical in nature, which to some one who is generally only interested in the 'current' bus scene meant there was very little off interest. I have it on subscription, but if I didn't I very much doubt I would have bought the past issue.
I appreciate it was the 60th anniversary and that needed coverage, but this issue pretty much ignored the current bus scene and totally lacked the usual mix of past and present.
Oh for goodness sake Humber Transport, surely once in a while we can be allowed to look back at what, for many of us, is a history of our own careers in the industry. I would imagine the varied content meant there was something for everyone, well almost everyone! There were some surprising features, and a fair amount of information that was certainly new to me. Don't be such a misery - there's always fleet news to keep you up to date.
I think once every 10 years, when the magazine reaches yet another milestone, it ought to be allowed to take stock. You don't save much at all buying it on subscription. Why not cancel and buy from your newsagent on an ad hoc basis? Will probably save in the long-run, though you'd probably have parted with the same amount of money for the 60th Anniversary Edition, wouldn't you?
Humber Transport said...
"...but this issue pretty much ignored the current bus scene and totally lacked the usual mix of past and present."
I don't agree. The current scene has an historical context, and many of the 'historical' articles bring the stories up to date with the current situation. In many respects it is difficult to analyse the effectiveness of particular measures in the present, so I think it is entirely right for the magazine to include such articles, as even if they do relate to events 60 years ago, those events may well have had a bearing on where we are today.
I am sorry but on a completely
diffenrent tack I remember getting into trouble for overriding on one of these.
Not for failing to forget to pay the fare nor because I had not paid sufficent,it was only 4d to either stop, but Hants and Dorset staff did keep an eye on you and where you were expected to get off the bus!
Mondays Tuesdays & Fridays it was the bottom of Fox Lane. Wednesdays it was the top: My Mum went to see a friend and I was was supposed to to join them f6r tea.
The Wednesday I decided to go to the bottom of Fox Lane caused me too many problems from the staff and Mother to make walking up the Road not worthhile.
As a separate matter on Thursdays my Grandfather collected me for tea and then I went home on the front of my father's cyc3e.
Because of the time the infants school finished had to catch the Service 21 at 3.30 rather than the Hants and Dorset service 22 which had slightly more modern buses. ie they could go under Leigh Arch
Thank you for fond memories. It is 52 years since I first attended that school and I am still less than 2oo yards from it today
Stephen
Sorry about the faux pas about 50/60 years and especially about the K... should’ve been more observant and should’ve known better! Both corrected...
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